Man accused of trying to pay 14-year-old for sex

PEORIA, Ariz. (KSAZ) - A man is behind bars after police say he tried to pay a 14-year-old girl for sex.

According to the Peoria Police Department, 56-year-old Joseph Tejada approached the girl at the Peoria Public Library on August 30, asked for her age, and offered to pay her for sex.

Police say Tejada gave the girl his phone number and the girl went home and reported the encounter to an adult and contacted police.

Detectives then made contact with Tejada using the phone number he provided and during the text exchange, Tejada agreed to meet the girl for sex.

Tejada was arrested and booked into jail on multiple counts, including attempted sexual conduct with a minor, attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, luring a minor for sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, and attempted child sex trafficking.